A Mazara team that arrived in Terrasini with just 14 men on its roster fell 4-0 against Athletic Club Palermo and was relegated directly to the Promotion, on the 30th day of the Championship of Excellence, group A. The yellow-blues finish the championship in last placein condominium with Aspra, and will therefore not be able to compete in the play outs.
First half: First opportunity for the Canaries, but Kasabala’s right-footed shot is weak and Russo blocks. The nerorosa respond with Pomba, whose attempt is high. The hosts are still dangerous with Manfrè who turns in the area, but is closed by Ciancimino. In the 18th minute Risoleo headed the ball wide for Gomes Nobre who tried a left-footed shot, just wide. The hosts try with Caronia, whose right-footed shot is deflected for a corner by Venè. Caronia himself also tries on a free kick, blocking the Canary goalkeeper. Mazara wastes a couple of restarts, Athletic tries to build but the balance is not broken. In the 40th minute, Ciancimino takes a free kick towards Kasabala which is anticipated by Russo. On the other side, Fricano tries to put the ball in the middle for Manfrè. In the 44th minute, Mazara was one step away from taking the lead: the ball reached Novara who made a first attempt, Russo deflected it and the post saved the Palermitans. We go to half-time goalless.
Second half: No changes at the start of the second half in the two teams. In the 50th minute the home team took the lead: Mustacciolo put it in the middle for Manfrè who scored in front of goal. Mazara now has to come back, but it’s still the home team that becomes dangerous with a through ball for Caronia anticipated by Venè and a shot by Fricano rejected by the goalkeeper. Manfrè’s second goal was canceled shortly after due to offside, the yellow-blues struggled to create and on the other side it was Caronia who tried with his right foot which ended high. In the 60th minute Canary protests for a foul on Gomes in the area, the referee lets it go.
In the 66th minute Caronia performs an acrobatics but the ball goes high. Athletic comes close to doubling their lead with Caruso, but Venè opposes twice. In the 76th minute the Nerorosa doubled their lead: Caronia started on the edge of offside and put in the ball for Manfrè who made it 2-0 with the goal unguarded. Palermitani also one step away from the trio, Manfrè tries to reciprocate for Caronia whose right-footed shot however is deflected for a corner. Another great intervention by Venè saves Mazara on a shot from Manfrè but Mazara is no longer able to create. In the 82nd minute, on the occasion of a corner in favor, Venè also jumped into the area and on the restart Caruso scored the hat-trick for the Palermo team. In the 90th minute Palermo’s poker also arrives with Corsino, while in full recovery Gomes Nobre comes close to scoring the flag, a ball just over. After two minutes of injury time the final whistle. Mazara sadly relegated to Promotion.
The match scoreboard:
Ath. Club Palermo: Russo, Birardi, Pucci (68′ Corsino), Fricano, Graci (75′ Antona), Manfrè, Mendola (83′ Lanza), Pomba (65′ Caruso), Caronia, Brunetti, Mustacciolo. Available: Di Maria, Camara, Mercanti, Tornambè, La Rosa. All. Onion.
Mazara: Venè (83′ Giacalone), Peterson, Gomes, Bojang, Benivegna, Ciancimino, Novara, Zingi Mbala, Kasabala, Gomes Nobre, Risoleo (77′ Danso). Available: Giacalone, Pizzolato. Marine All.
Referee: Yari Lauria of the Agrigento section
Assistants: Alberto Micciché (Agrigento) and Calogero Milioto (Agrigento)
Scorers: 50′, 76′ Manfrè, 82′ Caruso, 90′ Corsino
Notes: Booked: Birardi (A), Caronia (A). Recovery: st 0′, st 2′
